[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6293199,"mediaKeyId","2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3","parentId",2523769,"title","Council permits disposal of unusable police property; department to recycle parts and receive proceeds","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",2305000,"endMs",2445000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3&start=2305&end=2445","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3/thumbnail_2305000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6293199/Ohio/Council-permits-disposal-of-unusable-police-property-department-to-recycle-parts-and-receive-proceeds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293199-23f75f5a7154e53ede18bc411437cde1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934012&Signature=HRqq2a1a9478GhDocEo-dnEEZD~Wp4t8pF~byWheSKMeZW83QdVEB9vjawbHccyfVhFMfgQ4ve4QARDANzWTe5VQ88rqclVrUG8ZQtiRIe4SC7dCyyPWQh4W6tJFsi8ixj7BTxvU6EDN0ONLWzvHLaZuomH~BxLO~suMw-HlkKYME2cvHntINOqbZ1m66pnK8AD30naZMFB3kw0OH3S7Bt3n8ouPHyA7bo5YILRSNEbwhYFY66j20gn-OTQJ715aO3MA4ZQC7-BBWvxHuhKpPdEIn12ELGRw8BrjTK8Ci5uUBv2B-LLQHtGhw24L4J5LzaF4WyDoEBwvt5fqn~oEfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Independence OH","date","2025-03-06T19:58:50Z","article","The Independence City Council on March 12 approved an ordinance authorizing the disposal of unusable property held by the police department, including firearms and tactical equipment that the department determined are no longer serviceable or needed.

Police Chief Butler told council an inventory found gear and firearms unused for more than a decade. A federally licensed dealer and tactical specialist has offered to break down the items, recycle parts and melt down other components; the city expects net proceeds of about $6,450. Butler said the dealer is federally licensed and that the ATF and federal licensing would make unlawful resale traceable; the dealer will not resell whole firearms, staff said.

Chief Butler said some items are obsolete for current department needs and that melting down and recycling components is cheaper than paying third parties to do the work. Council members asked about assurances that items flagged for destruction would, in fact, be destroyed and the chief said serial numbers and license records would be maintained.

Why this matters: the ordinance allows the department to reclaim limited value from obsolete or seized property and to clear long‑stored inventory. Council relocated the item to the consent agenda and adopted it without amendment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council 3_12_2024","oneSentenceSummary","The council authorized disposal of unusable police department property, including longstanding seized or obsolete gear; the police chief said a licensed firearms dealer will break down firearms and recycle parts, producing roughly $6,450 to return to the department.","taxTitle","Independence City Council, City of Independence, Cuyahoga County, Ohio","taxId",70701,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293204,"Council adopts 12‑month moratorium on new small‑box discount stores to study zoning changes",197,3473000,3670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3&start=3473&end=3670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3/thumbnail_3473000.jpg","/articles/6293204/Ohio/Council-adopts-12month-moratorium-on-new-smallbox-discount-stores-to-study-zoning-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293204-07e735de969edfbec7ada63f24658dfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934012&Signature=QsC3Ry2i~HCgb~wSR2sBBpgqiAQ6OVCKNm~akkCJJVpo~N5KoRz4rYi3R6XXalytBnYSZbWJrf5~NKJ9iZJk61YvzQfWcoTpp-q8bJ6Ryrh6doHjRdDaSt8tVRdoxUjP7e3ZsxjhqXbfLyIKlWhy8lqCs2JSvjGGnN5jQk5HVJZt7j9f0tCUP8ss9ra0DtM5fUpxMymsOnP0CZ4FNWdtqq8SQy2kK9G8mlOq36y75jl4Dl3lA4Xt7iS4UEVl4XQmKgDQpdpFVA0a8bX31jtzduWzrJcesV5XmCzp4gcRL6hdLrxlXza6E85mH5iZycP6xqlvucr9HNdm7xqz2eez5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council on March 12 adopted an ordinance establishing a 12‑month temporary moratorium on accepting and processing applications for zoning, occupancy, conditional‑use and building permits for small‑box discount stores in all city zoning districts.

Council members said the moratorium will give administration and planning staff time to draft and present recommended zoning amendments to avoid a high concentration of one retail typology in commercial areas. The ordinance defines small‑box discount stores by characteristics discussed in the proposed text (items commonly priced around $10 or less and limited fresh food/perishable shelf space); council and staff said they will review the metrics and confirm how the definition would apply to national chains such as drugstores.

Why this matters: supporters said a short moratorium is intended to protect long‑term retail vibrancy and limit clustering of uses that may increase vacancies. Detractors raised concern about limiting property owners’ options for tenants during the moratorium and asked for clarity about which existing retailers might be affected.

Council placed the ordinance on the consent agenda and adopted it; staff said the administration will prepare recommended zoning changes and return to council and to the public for the required hearings.","Council established a 12‑month temporary moratorium on permitting new 'small box discount' stores while staff drafts zoning revisions to prevent a concentration of a single retail use type in city commercial districts.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293209,"Council approves conditional‑use permit for Empower Community Services center on Acorn Drive",192,542000,734000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3&start=542&end=734","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3/thumbnail_542000.jpg","/articles/6293209/Ohio/Council-approves-conditionaluse-permit-for-Empower-Community-Services-center-on-Acorn-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293209-5df37736f18e66364daeb898971365fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934012&Signature=TMz6yxrBwNdivkQEc54wrXjYFKMHzA-npxHwGRpCEYrLykudteJhDrg13O6iZiaGewXpgD0ckLH5Qq2CiYhGciIlLak-In6fDAEqD6CB~gIdJLP-~rWcVsUq83UsSy5vLM5E2HGFeTDMsqOvsoeTfW4xHjz1rQ15eoxLyx0hPqXCWfIhvLMEO5HKim4KEgr~AMSG81rj5Rm5ObbV~7tF6uGdrnvSXVGQvvCZWjH-jCOtZmGaD20fq2V-rew6h4toYLGYksE6X3p2CSeaZlgW5lOo0VZyahR84MNMhd80tonRUZt5LXnjt3ejjBlvlc-YEoWYKsZJCmqR-pfeLWZvGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council on March 12 adopted an ordinance granting a special conditional‑use permit for Empower Community Services LLC to operate a day‑services center on Acorn Drive, following a planning commission recommendation.

Developer representative Nathan Hester of Great Lakes Development Company described the proposal to council and said Empower Community Services provides day services and life‑skills programming for adults with developmental disabilities. Hester said the operator already runs similar centers in the Greater Cleveland area and that the project team met with the planning and engineering staff to resolve site issues. He told council the proposal included a minor variance because the site is slightly smaller than the zoning standard.

City staff said the conditional‑use permit is tied to continued operation at the location and will expire if the business ceases to operate there. Council placed the ordinance on the consent agenda and adopted it without further amendment.

Why this matters: proponents said the center would provide locally accessible day services and community activity opportunities for an underserviced population; the planning commission held a special meeting to accommodate the applicant’s schedule.","The council approved a special conditional‑use permit allowing Empower Community Services to operate a day services center for adults with developmental disabilities on Acorn Drive; the permit expires if the business ceases operations at that location.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6293213,"Council moves engineering studies and right‑of‑way steps for Brecksville/Pleasant Valley corridor; tree‑removal change order fails",3425,750000,4175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3&start=750&end=4175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2523769-9f40d2e5a820ada09d395e3269dcc2c3/thumbnail_750000.jpg","/articles/6293213/Ohio/Council-moves-engineering-studies-and-rightofway-steps-for-BrecksvillePleasant-Valley-corridor-treeremoval-change-order-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6293213-47115f9c710d1031070a824bd588e0c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770934012&Signature=Lk2HsrAQGOa1s5kR5lslOXhzPOjS~guzK0o57aQZEfLzaMaQ07eUjw9gW0L1upHz6cb8QgtHy1w5cjGUqxNjFUB27nPXev7vz~aZ115vb3X~6GqzD-eu0o7Bxf5-zYWcK5bqc-tgnaXH9DAYAw8Vqx882vY8hlnZ91v6O6IFDLy33tg8wenaaCA-UIdIIccDcw21-IhMI3sB66QiXJSijDW2Z0Pzy0jScHRVuKECqD9~LuAGqE5cenyYrcYrT72EHBVWDKddWhEu3Ba6quTEc1vKWLVMVRCSxxpzvjPH43pysP9J9DEeXxdbhvTBXjB33ZyQArH7NL2jYW61KQkPtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Independence City Council on March 12 approved contracts to study and design improvements along the Brecksville Road/Pleasant Valley corridor and passed an ordinance allowing the city to secure immediate access to private property for tree removal and right‑of‑way work; a requested change order to expand a tree‑removal contract failed.

The council accepted a $50,000 proposal from GPD Group to start a Federal Highway Administration‑level study of the Pleasant Valley Road and I‑77 interchange and approved a separate, up‑to‑$50,000 engagement with DLZ for preliminary engineering to develop a dedicated westbound right‑turn lane at East Pleasant Valley and Brecksville Road. City staff said the GPD study will examine 20‑ to 30‑year traffic projections, crash history and safety, and help position the city for federal grant funding. Don, representing the engineering department, said the work is required to meet ODOT and FHWA guidelines.

Why this matters: councilmembers and staff said the corridor has experienced rising traffic and queueing that can back onto I‑77 ramps, raising safety concerns. The engineering work is intended to produce the traffic analyses and design documents needed for state and federal review and for grant pursuit.

Council also debated and then passed ordinance 2024‑34 to appropriate funds and, if necessary, initiate court petitions to obtain immediate access to several parcels so contractors can begin tree removal before April 1. Staff and the law department said April 1 is a deadline for tree work because of seasonal restrictions; the city reported it has access agreements for some properties and remains in negotiations with others. The law director described the appraisal and deposit process the city will use when filing a petition for appropriation under state procedure if amicable access cannot be obtained.

Two separate purchase and sale ordinances (authorizations to acquire two parcels) were discussed as part of the corridor work. Council considered agreements to purchase two houses at amounts cited in the meeting — $255,000 and $240,000 — that staff said would allow the city to assemble needed right‑of‑way and then, in the near term, assign the purchase agreements to a private developer who is under contract to develop a medical office project. City staff said any assignment to the developer would transfer the purchase obligation to that developer; council was told the city could also retain at least the easements if the private transaction does not close. Council members pressed staff for written assurances and noted the fiscal risk if the city ends up owning properties while a private buyer delays or withdraws.

A proposed change order (ordinance 2024‑26) to increase the Townsend tree‑trimming and removal contract by $66,350 — intended to cover urgent tree removals tied to the Brecksville Road project — failed on a roll call vote. The Council vote on that change order was: Councilman Narduzzi — yes; Councilman Tagliotti — no; Councilman Traquis — no; Councilmember Viverka — no; Councilmember Wachanowicz — yes; Councilmember Day — no; Councilmember DeGeronimo — yes. City staff explained the change order had been requested because some property owners had agreed only to limited access and the tree work needed to start quickly.

Council members asked for more detailed traffic and safety data for the East Pleasant Valley intersection design work and several said they preferred committee review before advancing construction funding. Some members also questioned appraisal comparables used for right‑of‑way values and asked staff to provide appraiser explanations to property owners who raised concerns.

The council discussion included public comment urging resident input on development plans for other city parcels and a reminder from a resident that property assembly and eminent‑domain steps affect homeowners. Staff said they would continue negotiating access agreements and try to reduce the number of parcels for which court appropriation would be necessary.

The meeting record shows the GPD contract and the DLZ design retainer were introduced and either approved on the consent agenda or referred to committee as described; the appropriation ordinance for right‑of‑way (2024‑34) was adopted so staff can secure access and, if necessary, proceed with appropriation petitions.

Looking ahead: staff said early tree removals could begin this week on properties where access agreements are secured; the interchange and intersection studies will proceed with field counts and crash analyses and could be used to pursue federal highway funding if the studies identify warranted improvements.","Council approved engineering contracts and an emergency appropriation to secure access for Brecksville Road right‑of‑way work and advanced a Pleasant Valley/I‑77 interchange study; a change order to expand a city tree‑removal contract failed, and council discussed buying two properties to support a developer's medical office project.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council permits disposal of unusable police property; department to recycle parts and receive proceeds

Council adopts 12‑month moratorium on new small‑box discount stores to study zoning changes

Council approves conditional‑use permit for Empower Community Services center on Acorn Drive

Council moves engineering studies and right‑of‑way steps for Brecksville/Pleasant Valley corridor; tree‑removal change order fails